From Field to Fan Shop
How Sport for Development is Strengthening Textile Workers in India
By Hannes Utescher
In January 2025, a delegation from the From Field to Fan Shop initiative traveled to India to assess the project’s progress and kick off its second phase. More than 30 representatives from Bundesliga clubs such as Hamburger Sportverein, Eintracht Frankfurt, Union Berlin, and St. Pauli, BRANDS Fashion, Fairtrade Germany, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) visited key production sites in Tiruppur, one of the country’s textile hubs.
One of the trip’s key highlights? Bringing Sport for Development (S4D) straight into the factory floors. In partnership with the Indian NGO Youth For Change (YFC), the delegation helped organize a sports festival for around 250 textile workers and their families. And it wasn’t just about having fun. The event promoted teamwork, physical activity, and overall well-being—proving that sport can go a long way in boosting morale and fostering a strong workplace community, and reinforcing the value of such initiatives in the manufacturing sector.
Another milestone was the visit to the Green Factory operated by SAGS APPARELS in Tiruppur. This almost CO₂-neutral facility is setting new standards for sustainable textile production, showing that eco-friendly practices and business success aren’t mutually exclusive. The delegation got a firsthand look at how the factory integrates water recycling, renewable energy, and ethical working conditions - elements that could serve as a blueprint for future industry-wide improvements.
The trip wasn’t just about factories and sports, though. The delegation also engaged in high-level discussions, including a visit to the German Consul General, Mr. Achim Fabrig, in Mumbai. Conversations centered on the importance of sustainable supply chains and how Sport for Development can add real value in the textile industry. The growing interest from both German and Indian stakeholders highlights the potential for From Field to Fanshop to become a standard part of responsible business practices in India.
With the first project phase successfully wrapped up - having supported 450 smallholder farmers in switching to organic cotton and provided sport for development programs for more than 1,500 children and young people in Gujarat - the initiative is now looking ahead. Phase 2 will bring more agricultural operations into the fold and expand S4D activities across schools and communities on site. Bundesliga clubs have already signaled their commitment to keeping the momentum going, proving that sustainability and football can be a winning team. Sport for Development isn’t just about kicking a ball - it’s about making a real impact, from the cotton fields to the factory floors.
Find more information on the initiative here: https://www.sustainable-supply-chains.org/funds-projects/from-field-to-fanshop